World number one Novak Djokovic says he is ready to peak at Roland Garros

NEW DELHI: World number one Novak Djokovic has expressed confidence in reaching top form for the French Open and aims to show his preparation at the Italian Open, which began on Wednesday.

Speaking at a press conference in Rome, Djokovic stressed that he was focused on upcoming key events such as the French Open, Wimbledon and the Olympic Games. He revealed the strategic reasons behind his decision to skip the recent Madrid event, prioritizing his preparation for upcoming major tournaments.

“It wasn’t part of the schedule. The plan was to come here. That’s basically it,” Djokovic said at a news conference at the Italian Open.

Djokovic, who will celebrate his 35th birthday on May 22, just before the French Open which begins on May 26, expressed his aspiration to achieve a stronger performance than his recent performance at the Monte Carlo Masters.

Djokovic, who suffered a semi-final loss to Casper Ruud, aims to elevate his game and make a mark in the upcoming tournaments, starting with the Italian Open.

“I am on track to reach Roland Garros in Paris,” he said.

“I hope that here in Rome I can play better than in Monte Carlo.”

“The wish, obviously, is always to go far, but let’s see.”

As the top seed at the Italian Open, Djokovic, a six-time tournament champion, received a first-round bye.

Djokovic noted that extending the event to nearly two weeks influenced scheduling decisions, providing players with additional considerations for their preparation and participation.

“It’s a different concept now, the first time Rome and Madrid are almost two-week events, like Indian Wells and Miami.

“It gives you more time to recover between matches if you continue in the tournament, which I think is helpful for me.”

Continuing his efforts to fine-tune his team, Djokovic has re-hired former physio Miljan Amanovic for “certain weeks” throughout this season. Amanovic worked with Djokovic from 2007 to 2017 and returned to his team from 2018 to 2022.

In recent months, Djokovic has made significant changes to his team, parting ways with coach Goran Ivanisevic and his publicity team as part of his ongoing restructuring efforts.

“I am in favor of having a quality team and entourage around you, of having people who are experts in their field, who have experience, who have knowledge, who also understand psychology,” said he declared.

“They know how to approach you emotionally when you need help or when you need space.

“You spend a lot of time together on tour.

“You see them a lot more than your family, especially when you’re younger, when you’re literally traveling every week of the year.”

(With AFP entries)